Jews, Muslims and Christians find common ground in Berkeley conference on Palestine

For Immediate Release

Media Contacts:
Barbara Erickson: 510-524-3359 nalongo@earthlink.net
Mary Louise Gotthold: 925-324-4595 mlgotthold@sbcglobal.net

A Muslim expert on terrorism, the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, a Palestinian Quaker and dozens of other activists and scholars will train a spotlight on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during a conference to be held in Berkeley Aug. 24 and 25.

The two-day conference, “Breaking Down the Wall of Silence: Voices We Need to Hear,” is sponsored by Friends of Sabeel, an international peace movement initiated by Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land. The ecumenical organization links with peace activists of all faiths and persuasions to promote a two-state solution to the conflict.

Speakers and panelists will address non-violent resistance, life under occupation, Christian Zionism, U.S. policy, historical roots of the conflict and other issues. Among the presenters are Hisham Ahmed, a scholar born in a refugee camp and the author of “From Religious Salvation to Political Transformation: The Rise of Hamas in Palestinian Society”; Jean Zaru, co-founder of Sabeel and an elder in the Society of Friends; and Anna Baltzer, author of  “Witness in Palestine: A Jewish-American Woman in the Occupied Territories.”

The conference will also include a premier screening of “Holy Land: Common Ground,” a documentary featuring Israelis and Palestinians who refuse to be enemies.

The parents of Rachel Corrie, who died under an Israeli bulldozer in 2003, will appear, as will Chris Brown, an African-American peace activist who served in Hebron; Mitchell Plitnick, director of Jewish Voice for Peace; and Paul Larudee, of the International Solidarity Movement.

Other presenters include Hatem Bazian of UC-Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law, Phyllis Bennis of the Institute of Policy Studies, and Sandy Tolan of UC-Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism and author of “The Lemon Tree.”

The conference will take place from 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24 through 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25 at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave., Berkeley. Registration is $70 for both days and includes meals. Discounts are available for low-income and student participants.

Register online at www.fosna.org or by calling 925-324-4595.

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